Dunlop tyres were founded in Ireland in the year 1888 by a Scottish veterinary surgeon by the name of John Boyd Dunlop. He invented the first practical pneumatic tyre for his son's tricycle, which led to the establishment of the Dunlop Pneumatic Tyre Co. Ltd in Dublin. Over the years, the brand expanded and evolved into a globally present company, collaborating extensively with Brittain, and eventually becoming part of a Japanese conglomerate, Sumitomo Rubber Industries, to manufacture tyres and motorcycle tubes to riders all over the world.

By 1920, Dunlop introduced the use of Kevlar belts for motorcycle tyres. This had never been done in the delicate dimensions of motorcycle tyres, and their technological development progressed to introducing the first radial steel tyre, and now even using Carbon Fiber technology. They have even progressed to Multi-Tread technology that consists of a tyre made up of a combination of different rubber compounds moulded into a single tyre to deliver improved performance and longevity.

Dunlop has always dedicated a lot of time and resources into testing, development and the introduction of new technologies to continue to improve the motorcycle tyre market, and is always a key player in the competitive arena, often standing at the top of the podium after events for all kinds of two-wheeled competition.